Photo diary: Project 365, week 20 2026

It is plus 29C here today this morning, and I'm not functioning well. I have a low tolerance for heat. And it's going to get worse later.

This was the week of GCSE exams and the last week of school lessons. There's no getting around it. My child, who was five only yesterday, or so it feels, said Good Bye to his secondary school. There are still a couple of weeks of exams ahead after the midterm break. 

How did it happen so fast? I blinked, and my poppet has grown up. 

My Mum's cat has perked up after a week of visits to the vet clinic daily (my brother and his wife and daughter have been helping a lot, also paying for the very pricey treatments, as the money my Mum gave him has all run out in a couple of days. He doesn't tell her how much he has paid for the cat). I'm so grateful to them for helping Mum so much. Alas, I am not even able to contribute anything, as there is no way to send any money.

My husband visited his parents the week before to support them during a difficult time, as they have lost a close family friend. My mother in law, all emotional, passed on a lot of her jewellery to me, including her engagement ring. I'm grateful to her for the gifts, but also sad that she decided to part with it, especially the ring.

This vintage brooch is one of the haul, and I can easily wear it on a coat or jacket.

While Sasha was out with his PAs on Monday, I checked a couple of charity shops for books. In Oxfam I saw this old edition of The Book of Princes and Princesses.

The dedication in the book says, To my Dear Winifred, the unselfish and dutiful daughter of J.H.Ibboshow (? can't read the surname). January, 1915". 

Such a peculiar dedication. It made me wonder who this girl was, what her life happened to be, but also that nobody gives that name to girls any longer. You don't see any baby Winifreds nowadays, do you?!

My white rose is doing well. Just open the back door into the garden, and you can immediately smell roses and mock orange.

It used to be about four-five metres tall, cascading from an old plum tree which the rose used to climb up. It was a marvellous sight. Sadly we had to cut down the plum tree as it beginning to bend dangerously over the wall, and part of the rose plant had to go too. 

My husband was in Paris for a few days, and snapped this window display for me, knowing how much I enjoy vintage jewellery.

This thyme has self-seeded itself many years ago among the flagstones in the garden, and gives me such joy every year with its pretty blooms and the lovely scent.

Alas, the box hedges didn't survive the onslaught of the box tree moth this year. Most of them are destroyed, despite the fact I kept spraying them with all the special plant-based poison, which sould not affect the other insects or birds, and it made no difference whatsoever. I spent a little fortune on sprays. 

Finished my Goodreads Reading Challenge. I typically opt for 52 books per year, and then go over. 

Friday was the last day of secondary school for Eddie. He asked me to write his name on the white shirt and the school years, plus draw an image from one of his games.

He came back home happy and tired, with his shirt full of signatures from his classamates and teachers.

My new favourite biscuits - Bonne Maman Petits Biscuits Framboise Sésame, so tasty. I have spotted them in Waitrose, and of course, just had to buy. 

How did your week go?

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Photo diary: Project 365, weeks 18 and 19, 2026

 The last couple of weeks have been emotionally charged. 

Too many worries and anxieties, and sad news. A family friend of my in-laws who I also knew personally and met many times, has died suddenly. 

A very good friend of my Mum's called her the other day to say Farewell, as she has an incurable cancer. My Mum is devasttated, and so am I. Though I haven't seen this lady in over thirty years, I remember her family with great fondness. Staying with them was one of the highlights of my childhood and youth, they were always so welcoming, generous and kind. 

Perhaps I have reached that age, when we are rapidly losing our parents' generation, and it scares me.

My Mum is also very sad for her cat, who is very poorly, and is most likely not going to make it. The vets cannot find what's wrong. My Mum is not coping well. 

All this sadness floats like a cloud overhead. I'm feeling listless, and Project 365 is turning into a half-baked Project Whenever.

Hence a lot of my photos are just snaps taken in the shops, asking Eddie, what he fancies. This snap was taken in Waitrose, as I couldn't decide which free pack of crisps to choose as one of their Little Treats. Eddie to the rescue. He opted for Steak Diane (not my favourite flavour of crisps, won't be buying it).

Last Degustabox had a pack of a Nutty Kitchen Italian Supermince for a vegan Bolognese. I used some of it with rice in stuffed peppers, and needed to finish the pack, so cooked the pseudo-Bolognese sauce.

It really does not taste anything like Bolognese. I'd rather have a proper vegetable, meat-free sauce for pasta than this. It just didn't work for me, and I love nuts of all kinds.

It was another sad day for me. I found a little blue tit hanging head down from the netting of the currant bush. I realised it was still alive, ran into the house and cut the netting around it. It was tangled so much, it was a tricky job to cut through all the threads, trying not to hurt the little bird. 

It let me do the job, and pecked my fingers ever so gently, understanding that I'm trying to rescue it. Once it was free, I have put it among the herbs in the pot to recover. Sadly, an hour later it was gone, most likely from shock, poor little thing. I cried and buried it the next morning under the plum tree.

I have a photo of the poor birdie, while it was still alive in the pot, but I can't look at it now.

The next day I was looking for a sort of a sleeveless tank top that you can wear over a blouse. I tried several shops. The cream one is from M&S, I decided not to buy it. I bought a dark waistcoat in New Look instead, and it cost almost three times less. My Mum commented not very favourably on it, saying that I look like a hospitality industry employee (nothing wrong with that, though not perhaps the look I was after).

There is a gorgeous Californian lilac tree by the bridge, when I walk through the flood fields and the old blanket factory compound. It has such a beautiful scent.

This was the week Eddie started his GCSEs, and I've been an emotional wreck. I remember how I hated exams, they always made me panic to the point of fainting, even if I knew the subject well. It's the psychological pressure.

I have nearly finished my Paperblanks notebook, and treated myself to a new one, with a New York Rose design on the cover, from the leading design house of the Gilded Age. It's so elegant, and the paper inside is lovely, light ivory.

I enjoyed taking part in the coffee-themed Penandinkchallenge. This was my sketch on the prompt - Americano. I actually used real coffee to paint the background, then did a drawing and added a few stickers from Notebook Therapy range.

For the Espresso prompt, I did a sketch of my husband's grandmother. Nonna Elsa used to live in a granny flat at the top of the old house, with my in-laws living below. She was kind and caring. 

She would go out of her flat, and shout from the top of the stairs, Cici, Cici (her nickname for her daughter).

When we stayed with my in-laws, Elsa would invite us over for a cup of espresso. I drank it out of politeness, but for me it was like a rocket fuel, way too strong.

Elsa was a very special figure in my husband's life, as she was looking after him, when his parents were working. I will always be grateful to her for that little boy who was cherished and cared for.

My rhododenron next to the kitchen windows is in full bloom. I have noticed that the amount of bees visiting it is going down, it is worrying and sad. It used to be like a bee cafe. Now you're lucky if you see a couple of bees at the same time.

Saturday evening was all about Eurovision. Eddie told me to buy lots of snacks for the night. I kept snapping all sorts of picky bits for him to choose. Italian Aperitivo style selection was very good, with a delicious Provolone cheese, lovely little grissini and olives. 

Eurovision was the usual wacky show, with many eccentric characters. Can't say I liked the winner's song. Didn't like the tune, or the crazy dance routine.

I felt sorry for the guy from the UK. His performance was pretty awkward to watch, but there were other feeble singers who scored many more points. And then his own team left him to sit on his own, that's just awful. Glad the Danes invited him to sit at their table.

My personal favourites were Norway, Italy and, ahem, do I dare saying it loud, Israel. Politics aside, his song was beautiful, he has a good voice, and it takes courage to go on stage and perform to the boos from the public. 

Don't think my votes for Italy and Norway made any difference.

Did you watch Eurovision? Who did you vote for? And what do you think of the British entry?

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Photo diary: Project 365, week 17 2026

I think most days I cook the same dozen meals on a rota, with occasional takeaways, when my guys want a treat. I fancied trying a new twist on a recipe which I haven't cooked in years - crab cakes with a coating of Panko breadcrumbs and crushed crisps. 

You will need two tins of white crabmeat (drained), mixed with 2 eggs, mashed potato (from 1 medium potato), 1/3 cup of Panko crumbs (I used this measure for convenience as it's easier to scoop up the crumbs with the cup), 1 tbsp corn flour, salt and pepper. If you have chives, add chopped chives.

Mix well, roll into balls, flatten a bit - be gentle with the mix, as the patties are quite soft, place in the mix of breadcrumbs and crushed crisps, coat on both sides, and quickly pan fry in oil.

Serve as an appetiser, or light lunch or dinner with salad.

I used Seabrook Tomato Ketchup crinkle crisps, they added some flavour and texture to coating.

The greens on the plate are called Monk's Beard. They were on offer from Ocado. Never tried them before. Basically it's a coastline succulent, similar to samphire. It's OK, I ate it. My guys were not keen. Don't think I will buy it again, but it was fun to try.

 

We watched Greenland 2 Migration with Gerard Butler, and there was a scene when they arrive by boat into the flooded Liverpool. I just had to take a snap for Eddie, who recently visited Liverpool to watch a football game.

Apparently we've seen the first film, though I have completely forgotten about it. I vaguely remembered some scenes, but overall it was a very distant memory. I think it came out during the first year of Covid.

Have you seen Greenland & Greenland 2?

Our local library was closed for refurbishment for almost a year, and now that it is back, I'm trying to visit it at least once every three weeks. It also should help with buying less books (that is, it should in principle, in real life this hasn't solved the problem so far).

The shelf I am drawn to is the British Library Tales of the Weird. I bought several books from the series, and borrowed quite a few from the library. They vary in themes, each volume has a selection of stories on a certain topic.

Roads of Destiny and other tales of alternative histories and parallel realms must be one of the best ones in the series. Absolutely loved the Introduction by Alasdair Richmond, it's superbly written, informative and inspiring. I made a long-ish list of books, mentioned in the Intro, that I would love to read.

Think alternative history, multiverse, where familiar events take a different turn. One of my personal favourites was a short story by Gerald Kersh, called An Undistinguished Boy. It imagines a Nazi-occupied Britain. Poignant and moving, it makes you think.

An excellent collection.

My Mum has been writing poetry since her early teens, both in Russian and Ukrainian. She was in a boarding school in Donbas. Sadly, the town where she grew up, is almost a wasteland now thanks to the senseless war. One of her poems, written in high school, was the winner in the regional competition, and she still remembers that with fondness.

I wanted to translate one of Mum's poems into English. It is very personal. I love it but also feel conflicted about it, as it's meant to be about my father, who I loved very much. They were very different people, quite incompatible, both talented, each of them vivid and creative in their own way.

My darling Dad is gone these past 26 years. 

The poem is quite savage, a declaration of self, fierce and unbending. Trying to keep true to her poem, I kept my translation simple, capturing the mood and sacrificing the rhyme.

The illustration is a reference to her thoughts, galloping like wild Scythean horse.

At the weekend, when my husband is not travelling, we take Sasha out to his favourite cafe, where we often meet a retired American gentleman who loves to chat. 

A couple of weeks ago, while queuing, I asked him what he was reading, as I spotted a book he left on the table when he went for a refill. He told me he's a big fan of John Grisham. 

Then a week later he arrived, when I have already left the guys to enjoy their food and drinks, and gave my husband a bag with two Grisham's books for me. 

At first, I was a bit peeved, as I have so many books to read, including some that I agreed to review for the blog tours. I do appreciate a kind gesture, it's just the timing is not perfect. 

I did a couple of book reviews on my blog in the last week, and decided to start reading The Exchange, which is a sequel to The Firm (love the film, which we've seen many many times, and it's still brilliant, and read a book years ago and enjoyed it too). Now I'm glad that he took the initiative. The book is very good so far.

First week of May, and a new Penandinkchallenge list of prompts. This week's prompts are all about hobbies/pastimes, like knitting, sewing, gardening, etc. I painted my little witch and her chunky cat, in a total yarn chaos.

A wet day. Don't know if it has anything to do with a changing weather and the atmospheric pressure, but I was feeling awful most of the day, with dizzy spells and nausea. Checked the blood pressure a few times, and it was high for me, though not dangerous, according to the online sources. 

Ordered McDonald's for my guys, as I could hardly move around, and ate a bit of soup myself. 

My rhododendron is beginning to bloom. Last year I hardly had any flowers, and this spring it is covered with blooms. It looks pretty with the raindrops.

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Photo diary: Project 365, week 14 2026

Easter holidays have come to an end, it's back to school and early mornings from tomorrow.

We had a very quiet celebration, just the four of us. I cooked salmon with blood oranges among other dishes (Canadian lobster was pre-cooked and not particularly good). 

For dessert we had an Italian cake Colomba from M&S (top marks) and, of course, chocolate eggs.

 

All the weekend I was listening to Classic FM Hall of Fame, an annual tradition of mine. I forgot to cast my votes this year, doh. They kept remiding regularly on the show, and I thought I still had time, until there wasn't, well, that will teach me to be more organised. There was a bit of a reshuffle among the top three.

My husband left early in the morning to fly to Italy to give a talk and see his parents.

Sasha went out with his PAs, and I had a quick run to the bakery to buy some fresh bread. On the way, I saw some lovely clouds and patterns in the sky.

These squiggles made me think of the music notes.

And this one made me think of a Phoenix or a fire bird, with a long beak and the wings spread widely.

The only photo I snapped on Tuesday was of a Dexter collection at the local Oxfam shop. I actually was looking for any Dick Francis books that I haven't read yet. Eddie read a couple of Dexter books last year, and I sent him this photo, asking if he wanted any of those.

We had a few warm days, and I tried to weed as much as I could in the garden. The blasted ground elder is out again, it is totally indestructible, and a bain of my life. It's a yearly battle which I am always losing.

I've been also clearing the ivy and climbing plants from the stone walls. Last year we hired someone to clear the lot, and it's back. 

I didn't do any sketches the week before, and decided to join in with the Penandinkchallenge this week. This is my illustration of the nursery rhyme to the Moon prompt.

The latest My Waitrose Little Treat is a voucher for a Gü dessert. I fancied trying a new pistachio cheesecake. It is just OK, nothing special, pistachio tastes rather artificial, and I wouldn't be buying it again. I should have got a Gü Zillionaire cheesecake instead, which Eddie likes a lot.

I'm a big fan of Sophie Anderson's books, ever since her first book came out in 2018. I was lucky to meet her in person at one of the book events in Oxford in the pre-Covid days. 

Sophie is a talented author, a wise woman, and a very very lovely person. We keep in touch online. 

I was thrilled to find out that there was a new book going to be published in April. I read the proofs, downloaded from NetGalley, and absolutely loved The House with Chicken Legs Runs Away. It is such a beautiful book. The tale explores themes of death and profound grief, and also acceptance of one's foibles and forgiveness of one's mistakes.

If you enjoy middle grade books, and also stories based on folk tales, I believe you will love it. It's now in the book shops.

Yesterday night Eddie and I had dinner with our friends, while my husband looked after Sasha at home. 

It was a Mexican-themed dinner, with a tortilla made of blue corn, and lots of spices. It was the first time I tried a blue corn product, and hominy too.

A bit too hot for my unsophisticated palate. It was tasty, but oh boy, I needed plenty of sour cream and water. And some Rennies, when I came home. 

What else did I do? I read Proof by Dick Francis. This is the sixth book by Francis that I've read this year, and it's probably one of the two that I enjoyed the most. An original start, albeit on the gruesome side, a great plot and an excellent protagonist. 

I also started reading one of the historical fiction books for reviewing, and I'm slightly regretting it. The book is great, if you enjoy a lot of historical battles, and testosterone-filled atmosphere. It's just I am struggling with it. 

There were too many sweet treats in the last couple of weeks, and I feel I need to go on a diet. 

How was your week?

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Photo diary: Project 365, week 13

 Happy Easter! I'm feeling quite stuffed after a big meal, and a good chunk of a chocolate egg. Hope you're having a relaxed day.

I mentioned in the last week's post about venturing into the craft fair in town and buying a vintage Scottish brooch/pin shaped like a hunting horn, with a little thistle on it. I put it on my coat the next day.

And by now quite a few people commented on it.

A bit of an upheaval during the start of the Easter holidays week. Sasha's PAs arrived on Monday to take him out, one was a totally new guy who has never worked with Sasha before, the other also only accompanied him once before. They were clueless about what they were supposed to do. So I had to give a quick update before they all left. I was anxious that Sasha might get upset. Thankfully, it went OK. 

We have such a fluctuation of PAs, and are never informed in advance who is coming, which is not helpful. I mean, the new person didn't even know that Sasha is non verbal. Not his fault, as he should have been informed earlier what kind of patient he is working with.

From the original team of PAs who started with us two years ago, there is only one left, and even he is not a regular any longer. It would have been better for our boy to have a continuity of care, so that he gets familiar with his team. They are nice guys, very polite and friendly. Not much older that Sasha. 

One of them keeps calling me Mma, which makes me smile. I feel like my favourite character, Mma Ramotswe from the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency series. 

In fact, right now I am reading In the Time of Five Pumpkins - book no.26 - and enjoying it. By book 26, you know all the characters like your own family. 

Dyed my hair. It had to be done. I'm too lazy to do it more often than once a month. Talked to my Mum, and the first thing she said was, Did you wash your hair? Thanks, Mum, does my hair usually look so bad? 

Ran into town to buy more Easter eggs for Sasha's PAs. I have the chocolate eggs squirreled for my guys, and we've already polished off two boxes of Divine mini eggs (soooo good). 

Treated myself to a Co-Op Neapolitan egg for £3 (it's £7 for non-members, £4.50 for members, plus I had a £1.50 off).

An "exciting" day, as our new recycling wheelie bin was delivered finally on Wednesday. I'm clearly turning into a certain age demographic if the arrival of a wheelie bin makes my day. :)

The previous one was broken by the rubbish collection team four weeks earlier. There must have been something wrong with their equipment, as I noticed a few bins in the neighbourhood with the lids torn off. 

I applied for a replacement, and was told to keep the broken bin outside the front door. Of course, then all the neighbourhood jerks were throing their rubbish in while passing by, including the dog poo bags. How do these people justify putting their dog's mess into someone's recycling bin?! Just want to add, that I love dogs, it's the entitled dog owners that get my goat.

Yesterday I bought a bag of Forest Feast pistachio milk chocolate dates. My darling Sash found it, nibbled all the chocolate and put the dates back in the bag, which made me laugh. I would so love to know what he thinks, "I'll just eat the chocolate, put the dates back, and nobody would notice the difference".

My husband was travelling back from France and asked what to bring for our guys. I told him, anything sweet. And that's the pack of madeleines and macaroons that he brought with him.

When Sasha was out on Thursday with his PAs, we had a quick visit to Huffkins cafe. Eddie's been doing quite a bit of revision during holidays, and we thought he needed a break. 

Our kitchen is built as an extension, and there is a glass dome over the ceiling. I've been looking at the roof and the dome from the bathroom window, thinking it really needs cleaning. One third of the roof was covered with the clematis growing from the neighbour's side, and there was moss too.

I climbed out and did a good clearing, cutting down the branches and sweeping the surface. Good timing, as there was rain in the night. I wouldn't want to walk over the wet roof.

At the moment we have lots and lots of muscari in the garden, as well as some tulips.

Taking Sasha out on Friday. His hair is so long now, but he hates having it cut. I need to find courage and do it. It's going to be stressful for both of us. It's a total sensory overload for him, and quite distressing. He just about allows me to trim his facial hair, so at the moment my big boy looks like Jesus.

What else did I do?

I finished listening to Hart's Ridge by Kay Bratt (free on Audible), which I enjoyed more than I thought I would, and even got the second book in the series, currently on offer.

It's a small town mystery series, with a likable main character, Taylor Gray, who happens to work as a deputy in the local police department. Growing up in poverty, with an alcoholic father, she and her sisters were in and out of foster care. Taylor reaches her dream of working in law enforcement. An only female in the male environment, she is overlooked and jeered at. 

As an older sister, she's been looking after her sisters, and even now feels responsible to care for her dysfunctional family, especially Dad and junkie sister Lucy.

Aside from her personal life story, there is a mystery around a little girl Molly who's been found wandering on her own, and her mother is missing. Taylor is called to investigate where she could come from and how she happened to be left alone.

The narrator Mare Trewathen is pretty good overall, except when she tries to speak for men's characters. I rolled my eyes every time she tried to make her voice sound gruff.

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Photo diary: Project 365, weeks 11 and 12

 I keep telling myself, that I should do a short daily write up of what we've done, as then I forget, but it just never happens. Then when it's time to write the post, I stare at the photos, and try to remember, what was special about that day. The thing is every day is pretty much the same, apart from a few occasions.

And most days I am on an auto-pilot, looking after the family, cooking, doing the chores, reading, painting, chatting to my Mum online.

It's very pretty in town, with all the spring blossom.

Our darling Sasha turned 24, and I was very emotional, remembering the day he was born. It was such a tough day, and when I held him in my arms, I naively believed that the worst, most difficult, part was over, and everything would be fine from then all. In a way, it's a blessing, that most of us don't have a gift of seeing into one's future.

Sasha fancied a chocolate cake, as he kept showing me the picture of one in the Ocado food magazine. I bought a chocolate cake for him in M&S. Alas, it wasn't a big success. I think we'd go back to the Neapolitan three-layer cake I usually buy for my guys' birthdays.

I ordered a gift for Sasha's birthday at Next, which didn't arrive in time for his birthday (he had other presents too). When I went to collect it, I snapped a photo of a Hokusai hoodie, in case Eddie might fancy it, since he has a big poster of Hokusai's wave in his room. He wasn't interested.

I started reading Citizens by Simon Schama in early January, it was my big non-fiction project of the year. I read about 10-12 pages per day, and then escaped down the rabbit hole of Wikipedia, looking for more information and visuals. It took me over two and a half months to finish the book (there are about 800 pages). It's a great sense of achievement, I tell you that.

The book is a fountain of data. To start with, I wasn't overly keen on the style of writing, as Schama loves using obscure words, like picayune (he really likes this word, as he used it at least three times).

If you're not familiar with the topic, perhaps don't start with this book. It expects you to know about the main protagonists and events already. Saying that, the book gives a sense of drama and makes you think.

I was often left fuming over the unnecessary cruelty and pure savagery of the events. And it also shows that we really don't learn from the past.

Inspired by the book, I painted Marie Antoinette looking in the mirror, to see a vision of horror, her older self just before she is taken to the guillotine.

More of bloom in town. I love this magnolia hanging over the river.

Needed to go to the bank, when Sasha was out with his PAs, and my husband has enticed me into Huffkins cafe for a quick treat. He had a milkshake, and I had a cup of chai. We also shared a chocolate eclair.

Thankfully, the bank business didn't take long.

Looking at the bunches of spring flowers and pussy willow stems in Waitrose. Didn't buy any, but might treat myself for Easter. 

My older niece sent me a photo of my old Mama, reading to her great grandson. If only I could reach out and hug them both, my darlings.

Another non-fiction book I've been reading is Chronicles, volume one, by Bob Dylan. It truly is one of the best books I have been reading recently, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

It's not an auto-biography in a chronological sense. It is more of a story of who and what influenced his way of thinking and creating.

As a book lover myself, I enjoyed all the literature references and observations. Dylan's strength is his poetic descriptions of people and places. A couple of lines, and a person comes to life.

The book was published in 2004, and so far there is no volume two. I wonder if it's ever going to be written.

While reading, I dipped in and out of YouTube, listening to the songs he mentions. I enjoyed the back story fo the song Man in the long black coat, and wanted to paint young Bob.

I found it very tricky to capture his likeness.

Our local yarn bombing group keep changing their colourful displays to go with the seasons and occasions. For the coming Easter they knitted a vibrant scene, based on Beatrix Potter's tales.

We had a crafts fair in town on Saturday. I forgot all about it, until I accompanied Sasha and my husband to the cafe, left them there to enjoy their drinks and pastries and had a good rummage through the stalls.

I bought three jars of The Cherry Tree jam, a lovely homemade candle, and a vintage Scottish brooch/pin for my coat.

The Marriott's Walk, where the fair took place, is decorated with the colourful umbrellas.

What else did we do? We watched Dead Poets' Society with Robin Williams and very young Ethan Hawke, and The Martian with Matt Damon. Different genres and pace, and both brilliant.

Eddie went to see Project Hail Mary with his mates, and said it was even better than The Martian. I'll have to wait until it comes to one of the streaming channels, now that he has seen it, and I certainly don't fancy going on my own. 

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